Israel lost 24 soldiers in two separate incidents in Gaza on Monday. These events were the biggest setbacks since October 7. At least 20 people were killed in a grenade attack by the Al Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, near Kibbutz Kisufim in central Gaza. The attack came while the army was preparing a buffer zone by demolishing Palestinian houses and buildings 600 meters from the Israeli border.
The lightning attack by Hamas was during an operation by Israeli soldiers to destroy buildings in the area with mines. A Hamas rocket-propelled grenade unexpectedly landed inside the building where the mines had been planted. The next moment the building was engulfed in flames. Another building nearby, where the mine was placed, also collapsed due to the impact of the blast.
Another grenade was fired at a tank stationed outside the building. The tank commander and another soldier were killed in the attack. Hamas released the videos.
IDF Spokesman Daniel Hagari responded to the attack by saying that Hamas had launched a surprise attack on its soldiers with missiles and rockets. The attack was on a tank guarding an Israeli engineering unit. Daniel Hagari said the explosives would have detonated, collapsing buildings and killing most of the soldiers inside. The members of the reserve forces were killed.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog, Security Minister Yoav Galant, Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, opposition leaders Yair Lapid and Naftali Bennett all came forward with a reaction to the death of the soldiers.
Israel is creating a buffer zone by demolishing buildings on the border. Israel aims to secure its country by depopulating the 36-mile border with Gaza. October 7 is also a target for countering similar attacks.
Tens of thousands of people fled southern Israel after October 7. One of Israel’s war aims is to return displaced people from here. The idea of a buffer zone has gained a lot of traction in Israel. However, the United States has also come forward against this measure of reducing the area of Gaza.
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2024-01-24 14:05:34
